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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on maritime matters, Mr Leke
Oyewole, says that many Nigerians can benefit from the chandlering business if
the maritime sub-sector is well regulated.

Oyewole made this disclosure while speaking as the representative of
Vice President Namadi Sambo at the commissioning ceremony of the permanent
secretariat of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents in Lagos at
the weekend.

He called on the Nigeria Customs Service to recognise and regulate the
activities of the chandlers in Nigeria in order to achieve greater efficiency.

He also noted that besides creating hugejob opportunities for people, the sub-sector
could also be a goodrevenue earner
forthe government.

“I want to call the attention of the Customs to recognise and regulate
the activities of the chandlers.

“It is an area where the nation can make so much money, and it provides
enormous opportunities for Nigerians,” he said.

Oyewole noted that the sub-sector would always be vibrant because as
ships sail for months, they have needs to replenish their store with food,
water and sometimes clothing; and that it could easily be done by the chandlers
as the ships come into the ports.

“I want the customs to make sure that the chandler’s activity is brought
in focus properly, because a ship that sails for months will need to replenish
its store when it gets to any country. It is the chandlers who handle this,
taking food and other supplies to them,” he said.

Oyewole also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for successfully
disengaging the service providers, who he said were impeding the clearing
processes, from the port.

“I commend the customs for the cooperation and activeness to take away
agencies that were impeding clearing processes in the port. For the first time,
we have done it and it has come to stay. When an agency that was driven out of
the port is needed, it will be called upon, but it does not need to be in the
port to impede clearing process,” Oyewole said.